Before closing the lid of a top-loading kiln, shine a flashlight down into the kiln to check the cone and actuating rod of the Kiln Sitter or the thermocouple of a digital kiln. Position the shelves so they do not block the view of the Kiln Sitter cone or thermocouple from above. (The thermocouple is the rod that measures the temperature of a digital kiln.)
Do not allow a piece of glazed ware to extend past a shelf and over the Kiln Sitter cone or the thermocouple. If the glaze drips from the ware onto the cone and actuating rod, the cone could harden, fail to bend, and overfire the kiln. Dripping glaze could also reduce the life of the thermocouple.
Ware and shelves should be at least 1/2" away from a thermocouple. Position shelves either above or below the Kiln Sitter tube. Never position a shelf directly in line with the tube. This is because jarring the kiln could push the shelf against the Kiln Sitter and prevent the rod from dropping.
